[Dong-a Ilbo] Kling AI Hosts Panel on the Utilization of AI in Filmmaking at ACFM 2026

Photo: Kling AI

 Kling AI, an AI video generation platform, hosted a special industry panel at the Asian Contents & Film Market (ACFM) 2026, held at BEXCO in Busan on the 11th. Domestic and international creators, including director Sungsoo Kim, gathered to share their experiences in utilizing AI for the production of feature films, animations, and short-form dramas.

Held at BEXCO's Exhibition Center 2 under the theme "New Cinematic Possibilities: Reimagining Filmmaking with Kling AI," the panel featured director Sungsoo Kim, Chinese animation director Wei Li, MBC C&I AI Content Lab Team Leader Sangwook Lee, and MooAm CEO and director Harry Hyun.

"We hope to collaborate more deeply with creator studios and production partners in the Asian film industry, including South Korea," stated the Head of Operations at Kling AI.

Director Sungsoo Kim presented the production process behind his AI short film "Worm Train". He noted that while it was initially difficult to realize a scene where a giant worm physically collides with passengers, he was able to recreate the sequence after Kling AI's technology improved.

Director Wei Li showcased "Born of the Tide", a feature-length animation produced in collaboration with Kling AI. According to Li, the 105-minute film features over 2,350 shots and 152 characters. He explained that large-scale scenes, which would normally require significant time and cost using traditional methods, were seamlessly realized through AI.

Team Leader Sangwook Lee introduced "Rendering Love", an AI short-form series currently co-developed with Barunson E&A. Designed as a K-pop romantic comedy comprising forty 2-minute episodes, the project aims to encapsulate both live-action drama and virtual idol performances in a single narrative. This is achieved by using Kling AI's motion control technology to map real actors' choreography and gestures onto AI virtual idol characters. Lee revealed, "We are developing this into an IP model that can expand into music tracks, live content, and brand collaborations.

Director Harry Hyun highlighted the application of AI in commercial cinema, citing his new AI hybrid project "Natasha" as an example. He emphasized that generating a single AI video is a distinctly different challenge from completing a full commercial feature film, pointing out the critical importance of AI video quality, consistency, post-production, and final inspection.

The panel also addressed challenges the industry must resolve, such as quality control, copyright issues, and the shifting roles of production personnel, alongside the potential for cost reduction. Attendees shared a consensus that rather than replacing creators, AI will integrate with existing production methods to broaden the scope of creative expression.

(Original article by Yong-seok Choi, duck8@donga.com)